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Q. Hello! I'm a student in the ALS PhD program out of Harrisburg. I recall being able to search for dissertations with relative ease not too long ago.

However, I tried to do it today through the library's website and it takes me to ProQuest where I'm required to fill in an account name and password (?). I also tried clicking the link that says I can access the service through my library, but the link doesn't work. Any advice? Thanks!!

Answered By: Chris Clouser

Last Updated: Jan 29, 2015Views: 130

I'm not sure exactly what is causing your problem with reaching Digital Dissertations. I checked your account and everything seems to be working fine on this end. Be sure that you are accessing the database with the address that goes through the KLN PASS system for authentication. That's the only way that the database will know that you are an IUP student. It sound like you may somehow be getting to the database directly without authenticating. That's when the database itself will ask you to enter a user ID and password. To assure that you are going through the authentication system, go to the Library Home Page (www.iup.edu/library)and click on " Article Databases". This will take you to the alphabetic list of databases. Scroll down to the "Digital Dissertations" entry and click on the title. At this point if you are not running VPN (Virtual Private Network), the system should give you the Keystone Library Network PASS page for authentication. Be sure to use the block on the left and enter your Library Barcode (the 16-digit number on the bottom of your I-Card - the one that starts 60083901...) and your last name. Don't use the block on the right where it asks for User ID and password. That block is used by other libraries in the State System. When I tried this method on my own machine, using your information, it worked properly. Let me know if you still continue to have problems. Another way around the authentication problem is to use the VPN (Virtual Private Network) system. This is a piece of software that you set up on your computer. After you set it up, there will be an IUP-VPN icon on your desktop. When you are ready to access the databases, double-click the icon and you'll be asked to login to the IUP campus network. Once you've done this, your machine will behave as if it is physically located on the IUP campus and the various databases will recognize you as an IUP user automatically. If you would like to use the VPN system, you can get instructions for setting up the software at : http://www.iup.edu/itsupportcenter/howto.aspx?id=45777